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Trivia:

Cameo: [Todd McIntosh]The fake vampire who greets Buffy when she visits the Sunset Club is the show's make-up supervisor.See more »

Goofs:

Continuity: When Angel visits Buffy to reveal what he knows about Billy Fordham, after entering the kitchen, he leaves the door open a few inches and then stands at the counter opposite Buffy. In the next shot, Buffy and Angel walk out of the kitchen and the door is closed completely.See more »

There's a interesting theme emerging over BTVS this season, one that
will be revisited throughout the entire run of the series: The good
guy's aren't always so good and the bad guy's aren't always so bad.
"Lie to Me" confronts this idea in several ways. Angel may currently be
a hero and champion. But, back when he didn't have a soul, he turned
Dru into a vampire, making her an insane killer. At the same time,
Drusilla, wasn't always a demon. She was once a pious young woman
training to be a nun. Ford, Buffy's long-lost friend, is willing to
sell out everyone he knows to cheat death. While, Spike, the scourge of
Sunnydale, quickly abandons his evil plans for glory to save Dru's
un-life. Thing's are always as clear cut as they seem. It's a hard fact
of growing up that Giles and Buffy discuss at the end of "Lie to Me."
Sunnydale is growing more complicated and the show is becoming more
interesting because of it. This is an excellent episode that
foreshadows the difficult choices and complex situations that lay
ahead.

"Lie to Me" centers around Buffy's childhood friend, Ford, arriving in
Sunnydale. Ford seems like a nice guy, hanging out with the Scoobies,
going to the Bronze with Buffy, etc... But like most seemingly nice
people in the Buffyverse, he has a secret. Ford is dying. Convinced
that he can escape death if he becomes a vampire, he cuts a deal with
Spike. Ford and his vampire-cult friends know that Buffy's the Slayer.
They agree to capture Buffy in their underground nightclub/bomb
shelter, if Spike and the gang will turn them all into vampires. Spike,
between orchestrating the theft of a ancient book from Giles and
jealously learning that Angel and Dru have seen each other while he
wasn't around, quickly agrees to Ford's plan. Meanwhile, Xander, Willow
and Angel are suspicious of Ford. (Xander, mocking Buffy and Ford's
overly cute relationship, is particularly funny. "This is Ford, my
bestest friend of all my friends.") After investigating his past they
become convinced that Ford's up to no good. Buffy, angry that they have
been snooping around without telling her, goes to confront Ford herself
and fall right into his trap.

There's a lot to like in this episode. The vampire cult is hilarious.
Angel's frustration and disgust with the group's worship of the "lonely
ones" is great. And this episode introduces Chantarelle, who will turn
up again on BTVS and "Angel." Also, I like the scene where Angel visits
Willow's bedroom and they start investigating Ford on her computer.
"I'm not suppose to have boys in my room," she worriedly confesses. And
I really enjoy Willow's high-pitched strained laugh the next day as she
tries to lie to Buffy. Spike and Dru are always wonderful and this
episode begins to show the specter of Angel that still hangs over their
relationship. Plus, the idea of Giles and monster trucks is just funny.

A few small complaints about the episode, how did Buffy know that Spike
would back down if she threatened Dru? Buffy had only just learned
about Spike and Drusilla's relationship. Vampires aren't suppose to
have feelings or care about anything. Logically, Spike should have been
incapable of caring for Dru and been completely willing to let Buffy
kill her if it meant succeeding with his plan. How did Buffy know that
Spike was different than most vampires? That he would stop the fight to
save Dru? It's strange, but it's certainty an indication of things to
come. Also, I think the make-up in this episode is a little heavy.
Especially, in the scene where Willow and Angel talk in her bedroom.
They both look a little "made up."

My favorite part of the episode: Spike's frustration over Dru's pet
bird. "The bird's dead, Dru. You left it in its cage and you didn't
feed it and now its all dead... Just like the last one." I'd be curious
to know how many poor birds Spike had to catch for her over the years.

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